Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph W. Watson was the center of attention for the majority of the A.S. Council meeting after agreeing to a rare public question-and-answer session with councilmembers.
Thurgood Marshall College Junior Senator Kyle Samia was quick to question Watson, an ardent supporter of campus diversity, about his stance on affirmative action, which was effectively killed in California 10 years ago by Proposition 209.
“”I’m an optimistic person, but I wouldn’t waste my personal time and energy [on repealing Proposition 209],”” Watson said. “”I don’t think that it is going to occur in any real way. It is far more productive to be focusing on raising performance in schools.””
Earl Warren College Junior Senator Daniel Palay asked Watson to address rumors concerning a moratorium on alcohol and increased vigilance of Resident Secuity Officers at off-campus parties.
“”I am not aware of any moratorium on off-campus alcohol use, nor any vigilance of RSOs,”” Watson said. “”We have raised the issue that organizations shouldn’t have alcohol at commencement parties. We run the risk every year of a death and we come close to that every year.””
John Muir College Senior Senator Matthew Bright continued on the subject of alcohol, pertaining to the nightclub that will be included in the Price Center expansion. Bright confidently stated that he saw no reason why anyone would want to go to a club that did not serve alcohol.
“”We would like to have a location at UCSD where students know they can go and fully participate no matter the venue,”” Watson said.
Bright continued with a follow-up question, asking if it meant that the nightclub was more for students who live on campus.
“”It’s not a matter of not wanting senior students, but setting a tradition for freshmen,”” Watson said.
Bright was supported by A.S. President Harry Khanna, who stated that he thought a club without alcohol would probably be empty.
“”I have a difficulty believing it’s going to be empty when you have 6,000 students on campus,”” Watson said, holding steadfast to his position. “”If you cannot attract [students] to this facility while they are freshmen and sophomores, then they won’t come back as juniors or seniors.””
Commissioner of Student Services Kaveh Cyrus backtracked to the issue of a rumored targeting of illegal alcohol consumption off campus, and asked if it was a violation of privacy.
“”The university does not follow students off campus,”” Watson said. “”If an organization provides alcohol to underage students, that’s a violation that has to be addressed.””
Commissioner of Athletics Kari Gohd focused on the financial shortcomings of the athletics department, inquiring how the situation reached its current state.
“”The athletics department has been underfunded for 25 years,”” Watson said. “”The current deficit is not a surprise and I take responsibility in making the problem worse. I think the deficit does not reflect mismanagement on [the part of the athletics department], but that they were underfunded.””
The subject receded again to the rumored moratorium on alcohol when Palay asked if, although the university does not follow students off campus, Facebook would be used to enforce regulations.
“”Facebook has come up several times with [the] administration and we all have made a commitment not to monitor it,”” Watson said. “”But if someone comes to us with allegations and to look at a page, then we will do that.””
Watson also commented that incidents like this have happened in the past and have resulted in disciplinary action.
John Muir College Sophomore Senator Meghan Clair, who is also the Muir representative to the Student Regulations Review Committee, discussed the merits of enforcing the university conduct code with students who had allegedly committed crimes off campus.
“”My thinking is that it is better for us not to try to enforce the conduct code for off-campus crimes,”” Watson said, adding that it might become difficult to do so with issues such as sexual assault.
Eleanor Roosevelt College Senior Senator Erik Rodriguez-Palacios asked why there was no student involvement in the RSO workgroup that was created to address the problem students have with RSOs, revealed in the Undergraduate Student Experience and Satisfaction report.
“”We have hired RSOs as any staff employees,”” Watson said. “”This was a job description review, not a program review.””
Gohd questioned why there was no student involvement with planning the UCSD Rocks! Open House and several other events. Watson responded that it was an “”unjustifiable oversight.””
To conclude the session, Rodriguez-Palacios asked what Watson’s plans were after his retirement. “”I want to maintain my contact with students on campus so I’m going to apply to be an RSO,”” Watson said.
